Mafia II: Definitive Edition (v2020.06.18)

Postwar Empire Bay trades in sharp suits, smoky bars, chrome-heavy cars, and the constant threat of a bad deal turning fatal. Mafia II: Definitive Edition follows Vito Scaletta, a returning soldier whose family debts pull him toward the city’s competing crime families during the 1940s and 1950s. Rather than treating gangster life as pure wish fulfillment, it frames Vito’s rise alongside loyal but reckless friend Joe Barbaro as a costly descent marked by betrayal, violence, and obligations that only grow harder to escape. The mood lands closer to a tightly directed mob film than a sprawling criminal power fantasy.

Most missions place Vito in carefully paced story scenarios involving driving, shootouts, chases, fistfights, and occasional stealthy escapes. Gunplay uses a familiar third-person cover system, with period weapons such as Tommy guns, pistols, shotguns, and rifles making encounters feel weighty even if the shooting lacks the flexibility of modern action games. Between missions, players drive across Empire Bay, visit shops for clothes, food, weapons, and vehicle upgrades, or simply absorb the changing seasons and music of the era. The city is open to roam but serves the narrative first, so expect a focused campaign instead of the emergent chaos of Grand Theft Auto; the package also includes the story expansions and bonus packs, adding extra missions centered on Joe and other side characters.

Empire Bay remains the star: its radio stations, storefronts, neighborhoods, wartime austerity, and later economic boom make the passage of time feel tangible. The remaster improves character models, lighting, textures, and overall resolution, though its visual upgrade can still show rough edges and the underlying mission design remains firmly rooted in its original era. Strong voice acting and cinematic pacing give the story a memorable pull, especially for players who enjoy crime dramas like Goodfellas or The Godfather. It suits newcomers wanting a concise, character-driven open-city crime story, while returning fans get the complete Vito Scaletta saga in one polished, if not flawless, edition.